Murarrie Homeowners Stunned by Hundreds of Baby Huntsman Spiders

Huntsman spiders
Photo credit: CC0 1.0/Elliekay/Wikimedia Commons

A Murarrie home became the site of a shocking discovery when a couple found hundreds of baby Huntsman spiders invading their ceiling.


Read: Murarrie Driver Shocked by Venomous Snake Under Car Bonnet


Michael Davis, a carbon market specialist at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia, had an unexpected encounter with an infestation of spiders while in his Murarrie home’s garden. His partner, Fatima, rushed outside screaming for him to come inside, causing him to initially assume their 18-month-old son was in danger. 

Photo credit: WWF Australia/Facebook

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However, when they entered the house, Fatima was pointing at a massive spider infestation, with the mother spider being one of the largest Davis had ever seen—about the size of a palm. 

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Photo credit: WWF Australia/Facebook


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His experience quickly went viral after the video clip was shared on WWF’s Instagram and Facebook pages, amassing nearly 100,000 views. Despite humorous suggestions from followers to sell the house or burn it down, Davis safely relocated the spiders to the backyard.

While Huntsman spiders are commonly found in Australia, this particular incident has brought attention to the fact that Brisbane seems to be a hotbed for these creatures. The sudden influx of baby Huntsman spiders follows a previous report from Wynnum last year, where a couple found a giant Huntsman spider lurking in their bathroom sink.

What You Need to Know About Huntsman Spiders

Photo credit: ABCDee David/Pexels


Huntsman spiders, a part of the Sparassidae family, are widely distributed in Australia and other warm climates. Often mistaken for tarantulas due to their large, hairy appearance, these spiders can be unsettling when they scurry across walls or ceilings. The baby Huntsman spiders discovered in Murarrie are just the latest example of the species’ frequent indoor encounters.

These arachnids are not dangerous despite their intimidating looks. While their bites can be painful and cause localised swelling, nausea, or headaches, they are not considered lethal. In fact, Huntsman spiders play a beneficial role in homes by helping with pest control, as they feast on smaller insects.


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They are commonly found in outdoor environments, such as under loose bark on trees, crevices in rock walls, and logs. Huntsman spiders sometimes enter houses, often hidden behind curtains, or may even take up residence in cars, where they can be spotted scuttling behind sun visors or across the dashboard. 

Their sudden appearances are a reminder that Huntsman spiders are a part of life in Brisbane, helping to maintain a natural balance, even if they occasionally send homeowners into a panic.

Published 27-January-2025